Noticed something odd with AMD X2 4400+ Stock fan

[OmniShinzui]

Yeah, I have having cold boots a moment ago, with the front power LED just blinking. I checked all the power connections and sprayed out some dust, but it started fine after the 4-5th try. Great, but looking at the CPU fan after 20 or so seconds (basically when it hit desktop), I saw it wasnt spinning.

The blades of the fan were moving like an inch counter-clockwise, and go back to off position. It would happen like every second, until I used a finger to help start it, and it hasnt stopped since.

I know it shouldnt stop, but it seemed to have trouble starting. No blockage, but is almost 2.5yrs old. Should I consider getting a 3rd party cooler? If so, which. Im not sure if its a problem or normal, never look at the CPU at startup.

Thanks.

 

[Davegod]

yeah time for a new fan. However a possibility is that the fan isnt getting enough power from the board, in which case you might have some trouble. I'd consider that to be unlikely for a mobo powered fan but coming after a problem like you said, I'd want to see if there's a way to test the plug with another fan (and test the cpu fan on a PSU wire).

FWIW, and I don't know about DFI, but my MSI mobo resets the cmos after 4 boots fail immedately after one another.

 

[techs]

Depending on the model, many mobos spin up the cpu fan to full at power on to verify the fan is working. If the fan doesn't spin it may halt the boot to protect the cpu.
So it is possible the fan is causing the lack of boot.
Of course, its also possible its your power supply and your mobo is not putting out enough power to spin up the fan as the previous post says.
You can try going into the bios and disabling any kind of Cool 'n Quiet and overring the fan to run at full speed all the time and see if that helps.
Also, if you don't have a power supply tester, I would definitely replace the cpu fan and see if that fixes all your problems.

 

[OmniShinzui]

So I had it on for hours, like 15hrs worth and it never gave me troubles after. I just turned it on, booted fine. I looked at the CPU fan again, and it was "ticking" trying to spin; gave it a boost and worked fine. Temps after 3min of "off" for the fan, and Everest says 28c, which is great since its usually 30-32ish.

Im going to Frys today to get a new fan, but does that always entail a new heatsink also? I hear Zalman is a good brand (I usually stick to stock when I build), hopefully they have them there. Im guessing I should reapply my thermalpaste, so I should get some new Arctic Silver 5 also (Fry's has it there). Anything I should note before buying? Ive always liked the stock X2 coolers, its been really cool and quiet.

edit: I dont think its the PSU, but ive always wondered if my DFI mobo is the root to all my problems (but the hardest to replace, with all the wiring and everything, it'd be like building a new tower).

 

[Raduque]

Maybe try oiling the fan? I bet the bearings are bone-dry and causing it to bind up.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: Raduque
Maybe try oiling the fan? I bet the bearings are bone-dry and causing it to bind up.

Very good guess. It's very easy to do, also. Just buy some lightweight oil, like 3-n-1, pull off the sticker in the center, oil the bearings, and glue the sticker back down.